Vinni was the 64th overall pick by the Oilers in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
The No. 1 rated European goaltender by NHL Central Scouting, Vinni didn't have a great year for his club team (17-9-10, 2.72 GAA, .892 save percentage) in Finland's second-tier Metsis league but had some successful moments for his home country on the international circuit. At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Vinni has ideal NHL size. He has been prone to giving up the bad goal at times, but Vinni's athleticism and side-to-side movements are among the best in the class. It's going to be several years before the Oilers see a return on their investment here. Vinni is expected to move up the chain and play for HIFK in Finland's top-tier Liiga this coming season.
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Oilers' Sam O'Reilly: Heads to Oil Country at draft
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O'Reilly was the 32nd overall pick by the Oilers in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
The Hunter boys in London (OHL) run one of the best NHL feeder systems outside pro hockey, so it's little wonder that O'Reilly was a first rounder. He's a two-way pivot with skill whose compete stands out as his best attribute. O'Reilly isn't flashy -- he's more quietly efficient like former Knights, Connor McMichael, who has carved out a sturdy NHL career, or maybe former Hawk, David Bolland. O'Reilly is another one of those better on the ice than in the fantasy arena guys, so ignore him unless your dynasty format is deep.
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Oilers' Calvin Pickard: Signs two-year contract
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Pickard signed a two-year, $2 million contract with the Oilers on Friday, per Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff.
Pickard had a 12-7-1 record, 2.45 GAA and .909 save percentage in 23 regular-season contests with Edmonton in 2023-24. He's projected to open the 2024-25 campaign as the backup goaltender behind Stuart Skinner. The Oilers also have Jack Campbell under contract for three more seasons with a $5 million annual cap hit, but he spent most of the recent campaign in the minors and seems unlikely to earn a roster spot with Edmonton to start the season if he remains with the franchise.
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Oilers' Cam Dineen: Inks two-year agreement
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Dineen signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Oilers on Friday.
Dineen had five goals and 25 points in 58 regular-season contests with AHL Bakersfield in 2023-24. The 26-year-old blueliner is likely to spend the vast majority of his new contract in the minors, but he might be summoned to Edmonton at some point if the Oilers run into significant injury problems.
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Oilers' Connor McDavid: Expected to be ready for 2024-25
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Although McDavid played through an injury during at least part of the postseason, he won't require surgery and will be good for training camp, Ryan Rishaug of TSN reports Thursday.
McDavid had an incredible eight goals and 42 points in 25 playoff contests this year. His 34 assists is a new record, topping Wayne Gretzky's single postseason high of 31 from 1987-88, and the 27-year-old McDavid was also the first player to collect at least 40 points in a playoff run since Gretzky in 1992-93. Those accomplishments earned McDavid the Conn Smythe Trophy despite Edmonton finishing short of the championship.
Ceci posted an assist and two hits in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Panthers in Game 7.
Ceci set up a breakaway goal for Mattias Janmark in the first period. The helper ended a nine-game drought for Ceci, who was also scratched in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The 30-year-old defenseman had five points, 24 shots on net, 37 hits, 30 blocked shots and a minus-5 rating over 24 playoff outings. He's under contract for 2024-25, but with that being the last year on his deal, the Oilers may shop him around if they want to remodel their blue line.
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Oilers' Mattias Janmark: Scores lone goal in Game 7 loss
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Janmark scored a goal in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Panthers in Game 7.
Janmark had four points over the last four games, but the Oilers weren't able to complete a comeback for the ages. The 31-year-old forward produced eight points in 25 playoff outings after being limited to 12 points in 71 regular-season contests. He's one of seven NHL-level unrestricted free-agent forwards for the Oilers, and it's unclear if he'll re-sign with the team. Janmark's defensive skills could make him a coveted depth option for any number of teams if he makes it to the market July 1.
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Oilers' Stuart Skinner: Falls short in Florida
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Skinner stopped 19 of 21 shots in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Panthers in Game 7.
Skinner was unable to extend his winning streak to four games, and the Oilers ended up a win shy of the Stanley Cup. While there were some rough patches for Skinner this postseason, he ended up with a 14-9 record, a 2.45 GAA and a .901 save percentage over 23 appearances. The 25-year-old looks firmly entrenched as the Oilers' starting goalie heading into 2024-25.
Skinner will be between the pipes for Game 7 on the road against the Panthers on Monday.
Skinner and the Oilers will be looking for a fourth consecutive win and the Stanley Cup title in Monday's matchup. Over the last three outings, the 25-year-old netminder is sporting a 1.67 GAA and .942 save percentage. The Edmonton-born netminder will go up against Sergei Bobrovsky in the other crease in the final game of the 2023-24 campaign.
Kane (abdomen) is available for Game 7 on Monday against Florida, but head coach Kris Knoblauch did not clarify whether or not he'd be in the lineup, per TSN.
Kane hasn't played since Game 2, and the Oilers have forced a Game 7 after being down 3-0 in the series. At the moment, it's unclear if the Oilers will want to adjust the lineup to fit Kane back in after they've caught fire. He produced a minus-4 rating in two games against the Panthers and has eight points with a minus-7 rating this postseason.
Broberg registered an assist, three blocked shots and a plus-3 rating in Friday's 5-1 win over the Panthers in Game 6.
Broberg has three points over nine appearances since he became a regular in the Oilers' lineup. More impressively, he's added a plus-8 rating and hasn't taken a minus in any of those contests. The defenseman has added 17 blocked shots and six shots on net while seeing bottom-four minutes and minimal power-play time.
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Oilers' Brett Kulak: Pockets helper Friday
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Kulak recorded an assist and two blocked shots in Friday's 5-1 win over the Panthers in Game 6.
Kulak has a helper in three of the last four games. The defenseman has been a surprising source of depth offense with eight points through 24 playoff contests after he logged just 16 points in 82 regular-season outings. He's added 45 blocks, 22 hits, 14 PIM, 21 shots on net and a minus-1 rating this postseason while skating on the third pairing.
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Oilers' Mattias Janmark: Posts assist in win
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Janmark recorded an assist, two shots on goal, four PIM and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 5-1 win over the Panthers in Game 6.
Janmark has stepped up with three points during the Oilers' three-game winning streak. The 31-year-old forward is up to seven points, including a pair of shorthanded goals, as well as 21 shots on net, 21 hits, 12 PIM and a plus-5 rating through 24 playoff appearances in a bottom-six role.
